Priyanka Gandhi is Congress hope ahead of Lok Sabha polls: Leaders

New Delhi/ Lucknow: Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra embarked on her  political journey from the top of a truck that drove through the streets of Lucknow on Monday as her party launched its campaign in Uttar Pradesh for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Since early morning, Congress workers were seen busy giving final touches to the arrangements for the roadshow, distributing food packets, tea and water to passersby. Patriotic songs were played on loudspeakers perking up the mood.

“Maa Durga ka roop behen Priyankaji (Sister Priyankaji is Maa Durga’s incarnation) said one poster, while some others highlighted her resemblance to Indira Gandhi, her grandmother.

Besides workers of other front organisations of the party, some Congress workers — said to be members of Priyanka sena, a little known outfit — were seen wearing pink T-shirts with her photograph.

“With the Priyanka Sena at the Nehru Bhawan, Lucknow it is almost celebration here,” tweeted Sushmita Dev, president of all India Mahila Congress.
An enthusiastic party general secretary Shailendra Tewari has customised his car to welcome Priyanka with the banner reading, “Aa gai priyanka...baj gaya danka... brashtachar ki ab lagegi Lanka...”

A day before her maiden visit to Uttar Pradesh as Congress general secretary, Priyanka Gandhi said that together with the people of the state she hopes to start a “new kind of politics” in which everyone will be a stakeholder.

The two general secretaries will interact with party workers at the state Congress office in Lucknow on February 12, 13 and 14. Priyanka Gan-dhi is the Congress’ big hope for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections who will be shouldering the respo-nsibility of reviving Con-gress fortunes, especially in the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh, say party insiders.

Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson Rajiv Bakshi told PTI that Priyanka Gandhi’s entry into formal politics will enthuse party workers.